Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5

Open Game
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/8/4p3/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR w
Moves: 1. e4 e5
ECO code: C20–C99
Parent: King's Pawn Game
Responses: 2. Nf3 - Open Game 2. Bc4 - Bishop's Opening 2. f4 - King's Gambit 2. Nc3 - Vienna Game 2. d4 - Centre Game 2. Nh3 - Basman Attack

1...e5 · Open Game

1...e5, the Open Game (or Double King's Pawn Game), is Black's classical response to 1. e4. By mirroring White's move, Black grabs an equal share of the centre and scope to develop some pieces. 1...e5 is one of the few moves that directly interferes with White's ideal plan of playing d4.

But, the move's merit is also a drawback: the longer the position remains symmetrical, the longer White will have an advantage by moving first. Also, the pawn on e5 is undefended, and it is easy for White to develop in a way that restricts Black's possible responses, by simply threatening to capture it.

Though the move is still common at every level, it saw a modest decline in popularity during the 20th century.

White's responses

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. Nf3   (King's Knight)

The overwhelmingly popular move here – about 10 times more common than everything else combined – is 2. Nf3.

This threatens Black's undefended pawn while developing a piece in preparation for castling on the kingside. The developed knight also defends the d4 square preparing for a future d2-d4 pawn push.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. Bc4   (Bishop)

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. Nc3   (Vienna)

2. Bc4, the Bishop's Opening, and 2. Nc3, the Vienna Game, are simple alternative ways of developing a piece.

They don't give Black a particular problem to deal with, but they aren't bad moves either, and they keep open the option of either d4 or f4.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. f4   (King's Gambit)

Another plan is to try and lever open the f-file for an attack on Black's weak f7 point with 2. f4, the King's Gambit.

This was popular in Victorian times and earlier, but Black has now found a few reliable ways of grabbing the proffered pawn and keeping it.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. d4   (Centre)

Or, White can smash the centre open with 2. d4 in order to develop pieces with great speed, sacrificing a pawn or two if necessary.

Less common responses

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. d3   (Indian)

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. Qh5   (Parham)

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. c3   (Centre Pawn)

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. Qf3   (Napoleon)

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. Ne2   (Alapin)

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. Bb5   (Portuguese)

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. g4   (Fernando Torres)

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

2. Ke2   (Bongcloud Attack)

Other less common moves:

• 2. d3 - Indian Opening
• 2. Qh5 - Parham Attack
• 2. c3 - Centre Pawn Opening
• 2. Qf3 - Napoleon Opening
• 2. Ne2 - Alapin's Opening
• 2. Bb5 - Portuguese Opening
• 2. g4 - Fernando Torres Variation
• 2. Ke2? - Bongcloud Attack

Statistics

Approximate chances

White win ??%, Draw ??%, Black win ??%.

Estimated next move popularity

Nf3 81%, f4 6%, Nc3 6%, Bc4 4%, d4 2%, all others less than 0.5%

Theory table

1. e4 e5

	2	3	4	5	6	7	Evaluation
Ruy Lopez	Nf3 Nc6	Bb5 a6	Ba4 Nf6	O-O Be7	Re1 b5	Bb3 d6	=
Bishop's Opening	Bc4 Nf6	d4 exd4	Nf3 Bb4+	c3 dxc3	bxc3 Bc5	e5 d5	=
King's Gambit	f4 exf4	Nf3 g5	h4 g4	Ne5 Nf6	Bc4 d5	exd5 Bd6	=
Vienna Game	Nc3 Nf6	f4 d5	fxe5 Nxe4	Nf3 Be7	d4 Bb4	Bd2 Bg4	=
Center Game	d4 exd4	Qxd4 Nc6	Qe3 Nf6	Nc3 Bb4	Bd2 O-O	O-O-O Re8	=
Indian Opening	d3 Nc6						=
Parham Attack	Qh5 Nc6	Bc4 g6	Qf3 Nf6	Ne2 Bg7	Nbc3 d6		=
Centre Pawn Opening	c3 d5						=
Napoleon Opening	Qf3 Nf6						=
Alapin's Opening	Ne2 Nf6
Portuguese Opening	Bb5 c6
Fernando Torres Opening	g4
Bongcloud Attack	Ke2 Ke7

References

• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.

• Modern Chess Openings: MCO-14. 1999. Nick de Firmian, Walter Korn. ISBN 0-8129-3084-3.

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

External links

• 365Chess: 1. e4 e5

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.